Bracket for adjusting dipole elements of a tv receiving antenna

ABSTRACT

A bracket for adjusting the dipole elements of a TV receiving antenna in which the dipoles may be selectively placed in a straight configuration, which is colinear, or in a V-shape depending upon the reception desired. The dipoles may be either preset in the desired configuration or changed in place, without necessitating a disassembly of the antenna.

United States Patent Sylan Slmons 74 Greenwich Ave., Glenville, Conn. 06830 821,032

May 1, 1969 Sept. 14, I971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented BRACKET FOR ADJUSTING DIPOLE ELEMENTS OF A TV RECEIVING ANTENNA 3 Claims, 3 Drawing figs.

US. Cl. 343/812, 343/882 Int. Cl. H011 21/12 Field ofSeareh 343/7925,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,926,350 2/l960 Saul 343/9l5 FOREIGN PATENTS 574,323 4/1959 Canada 343/81 1 Primary Examiner-Eli Lieberman Attorney-Alfred E. Miller PATENTEUSEPI 4:911 3,605,103

INVENTOR. SYLVAN Simmer;

BY (EB/4L '7 "L.

ATTORNEY BRACKET EOR ADJUSTING DIPOLE ELEMENTS OF A TV RECEIVING ANTENNA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is generally known to those familiar with TV receiving antenna construction, that since the antenna must operate in a wide band of frequencies the design is at best a compromise. One of the significant compromises in TV receiving antenna construction is whether to install straight dipole elements or make these elements Vd or angled. Moreover, it is known that the straight dipole elements function best for 1/2- wavelength dipoles; however, these dipoles become 3/2 wavelengths long when receiving signals at the high VHF TV band.

The use of V-shaped dipole construction does result in added gain on the high frequency VHF TV band; however, the V-shape has the disadvantage that the impedance and signal response of the dipole is lowered when the antenna is operating at its fundamental frequency, which is when the dipoles are 1/2 wavelength long.

If the dipoles are all straight, with the high band parasitic elements positioned close to the director elements to permit the antenna to respond at maximum effectiveness in the same direction as on the low band operation, as against angling or v'ing the elements to maintain the same directional maximum response, a disadvantage arises in that the straight element design results in lesser gain at the high TV band.

Since, as described above, the particular antenna which gives the best results should be selected. Accordingly the TV installer has a choice and may select a straight or angled antenna for the configuration best suited for TV reception in the area. The adjustment device for this purpose is the subject matter of the present invention.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a bracket that is fastened to the boom of a TV receiving antenna and which permits the dipole elements to be held therein and adjustable to at least two positions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pivotal bracket having the dipole element mounted thereon, and in which the dipole may be swung into a plane generally parallel with the mast for packing and shipping purposes' A further object of the present invention is to provide an insulating bracket having slots therein arranged to permit the dipole element to be changed from one position in one slot to another position in another of said slots, and locked in the selected slot.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an insulated bracket for the active dipole elements of a TV antenna which is reliably effective for the purposes intended.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a TV receiving antenna in which the dipole elements are straight with a number of directors arranged therewith and having my novel adjustable bracket.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the TV receiving antenna shown in FIG. I with the dipole elements being changed to a V or angled form, and in which each V is disposed in a forward direction.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the novel adjustable bracket used with the antenna.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring particularly to FIG. I, a boont I is mounted on a mast 12 of a TV receiving antenna by means ofa U-bolt clamp ll. Boom braces 14 and 16 are secured by means of a clamp 18 to the mast 12. The dipole elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 are each constituted of two conductors which are colinear and form straight elements spaced from each other, and are furthermore cross-connected by a harness 34 and 36. Each of the dipole elements 20-32 are adjustably fastened to a mounting bracket on the mast, the bracket being referred to generally by the numeral 38. At the forward end of the TV antenna is a colinear director 40, while at the back end of the antenna are high band directors 42, 44, and 46 which are angled downwardly in order to increase the capture area. Additional straight high band directors 48, 50, 52, and 54 are located forward of the angled directors 42-46. A lead-in wire 56 for the antenna is connected to the dipole 32.

FIG. 2 illustrates the TV receiving antenna of FIG. I with dipole elements 20-32 changed in the brackets 38 from a straight to a V position. Thus, the dipoles are all located at an angle to the horizontal plane. In addition, the director 40 is V'd. It should be noted that the reference numerals in FIG. 2 correspond to the like reference numerals of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the brackets 38 in greater detail in which each of the brackets have an insulating support member 58 fixed in regularly spaced relationship along the boom 10. The support member 58 has wings 58a and 58b extending in opposite directions. Each of the aforesaid wings have slots 60 and 62 with a separating projection 64 therebetween. Pivotally secured at 66 to each of the wings 58a and 58b is a slightly resilient clip 68 with leg portions 70 and 72 which are interconnected by a tailpiece 73. The tailpiece 73 is selectively located either in slot 60 or in slot 62. When it is desired to have straight dipole elements for the antenna as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, the tailpiece 73 is snapped into slot 62. When a V-shaped antenna is required, the resilient slip 68 is pivoted at pivot point 66 and the tailpiece 73 is inserted in slot 60. When this is accomplished, each of the dipole elements takes the position as shown in full lines on the left-hand side of the supportmember 58.

In addition, if it is required to pack or ship the present antenna, the dipole elements and the clip 68 may be rotated to the rear where the dipole elements assume a position generally parallel to the boom 10. This arrangement, of course, facilitates the handling of the antenna and is clearly seen in full lines on the right-hand side of support member 58. It will be noted that in this position the tailpiece 73 does not engage in either slot 60 or slot 62.

What I claim is:

l. A TV receiving antenna provided with a mast and a boom thereon having a plurality of spaced dipoles each constituting a pair of conductors, a bracket for each of the pairs of said conductors on said boom, said bracket being insulated and provided with a first pair of adjacent rigid slots on one of the sides of said bracket, a second pair of adjacent rigid slots on the opposite side of said bracket, a separate member pivotally mounting each of said pairs of conductors to said bracket and being provided with a slightly resilient clip, each of said clips alternately engaging and locking in each of said slots to change said dipoles from a colinear arrangement to angled arrangement and vice versa.

2. A TV receiving antenna as claimed in claim I wherein each of said clips is bifurcated and at the free end thereof terminates in a projecting portion.

3. A TV receiving antenna as claimed in claim I wherein said projecting portion is a tailpiece interconnecting the legs of said clip, said tailpiece fitting snugly into one of said slots.

UNI'IHI) S'IA'IEh' IA'IICNTI OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 5, 3 Dated September 4, 1971 SYLVAN SIMONS Invent0r(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Page 1, line 2, '7 Greenwich Ave. should be --Ange1us Drive- Signed and sealed this 17th day of September 1974,

(SEAL C. MARSHALL DANN McCOY M. GIBSON JR.

Commissioner of Patents 

1. A TV receiving antenna provided with a mast and a boom thereon having a plurality of spaced dipoles each constituting a pair of conductors, a bracket for each of the pairs of said conductors on said boom, said bracket being insulated and provided with a first pair of adjacent rigid slots on one of the sides of said bracket, a second pair of adjacent rigid slots on the opposite side of said bracket, a separate member pivotally mounting each of said pairs of conductors to said bracket and being provided with a slightly resilient clip, each of said clips alternately engaging and locking in each of said slots to change said dipoles from a colinear arrangement to angled arrangement and vice versa.
 2. A TV receiving antenna as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said clips is bifurcated and at the free end thereof terminates in a projecting portion.
 3. A TV receiving antenna as claimed in claim 1 wherein said projecting portion is a tailpiece interconnecting the legs of said clip, said tailpiece fitting snugly into one of said slots. 